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Revenant actor Duane Howard visits the Chilcotin to share insights with local youth and communities

Every once in a while someone comes along who embodies both greatness and humility, a quality that makes others around them feel good about themselves.
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Actor Duane Howard, star of The Revenant, with young fans Raven Solomon, 9, (left) and Melvin Diablo, 11, Wednesday at Tl’esqox (Toosey) First Nation where he was invited to give inspirational talks. Monica Lamb-Yorski photo. Actor Duane Howard, a star of The Revenant , with young fans Raven Solomon, 9, (left) and Melvin Diablo, 11, Wednesday at Tl’esqox (Toosey) First Nation where he was invited to give inspirational talks.

Every once in a while someone comes along who embodies both greatness and humility, a quality that makes others around them feel good about themselves.

One of those people is actor Duane Howard, renown for his role as the lead native warrior Elk Dog in the Academy award winning film The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

This week Howard visited Tl’esqox (Toosey) First Nation, 50 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake, to give inspirational talks.

He met with band council and community members at the Tl’esqox health centre on Wednesday.

On Thursday more than 70 youth from the region attended a workshop he gave at the Old School Training and Recreation Centre at Riske Creek.

The Tribune had the honour of attending the Wednesday session, which was an intimate one with about 30 people sitting in the boardroom.

When Howard was asked what he thought of working with DiCaprio, he said he was a “good” guy.

“He was great to work with, really humble, open-minded,” Howard said. “Every time we were on set he was just very personal. On that set we all learned from each other.”

Howard said before The Revenant he had lost two jobs, his partner walked out of his life and he lost his home.

“I just had my jeep and my clothes so I lived in my vehicle for seven months, even in the middle of winter.”

At night, he said, he’d look up to the sky and ask the Creator to bless him with some food the next day.

These days, however, Howard devotes some of his time to sharing his life story and his message that everyone can be happy.

“If you bring your culture, songs, prayer and belief into your life, everything will change.”

Howard was born in the Nuu-chah-nulth territory on the west coast of Vancouver Island, but his family moved to Port Alberni when he was three.

He had his first drink at the age 10 at an uncle’s party and after his parents split up when he was 12, he was drinking more and eventually ended up living on the streets in Vancouver by the time he was 14.

It was the birth of his son 31 years ago that inspired him to turn his life around and better himself physically, spiritually and emotionally.

“I sobered up when my oldest son was born, but I never had the opportunity to bring him up. His late mom kept him away from me.”

He also has a daughter, now 21 and another son who is 17.

When he stopped using alcohol and drugs, Howard said he had a Grade 3 reading level and the emotional level of a 12 year old.

“I had to learn who Duane was. I forgave my mom and dad, forgave myself for everything I did and took ownership.”

He never got along with his father but said the two love each other today.

“Sometimes he will call me up and ask me where I am and I tell him, ‘I’m running around in your mind dad.’”

Howard has been acting for almost two decades.

When he embarked on his acting career, someone told him he’d never make it as an actor, especially a native actor.

“Then in 2016, who was walking up at the Oscars?” he said chuckling. “That same lady phoned up to congratulate me.”

Howard loves acting, it’s his passion, he added.

“Get me behind a camera and I’ll create the most beautiful piece. I tell people go out and find something you love.

“Don’t do it just because, don’t do it to fit in. You have to truly believe in yourself and tell yourself you are beautiful.”

Howard is not ashamed of any part of his life and has learned it comes down to how you think about it, he said.

“I tell people they will face challenges and want to walk away. I still face disappointments today, even though I am embedded in my culture and our ceremonies,” he said.

“Many successful people have shown me we have to sit back and be humble and accept what we are going through.”

The community’s health director Teresa Johnny invited Howard to Tl’esqox after Chief Francis Laceese and Coun. Gina Johnny asked her to find someone to bring in that could speak with the youth.

“They were concerned about the youth being involved with gangs, alcohol and drugs and worried about losing their youth.

“I thought about Duane right away but it wasn’t able to happen until now and I’m really happy he is here today.”

After she learned Howard had visited her home community of Cape Mudge, Johnny decided she had to invite him to come to Tl’esqox.

“I heard how inspirational his talks are and thought it would be an honour for people in the Tsilhqot’in to hear how he had lived for so many years on skid row and to rise above that and change it,” Johnny said.

“Listening to him talk today, he’s phenomenal. The kids are listening to him and hearing about how they can be happy.”

Laceese said he was enjoying hearing what Howard had to say.

“We wanted to bring someone in who had gone in the wrong direction, but has got back on track,” Laceese said.

“We thought his talk could strengthen the views of the youth and give them a better way to look at their lives.”

A community member asked Howard if he risks losing his First Nations identity by being an actor.

“You won’t lose your identity if you know who you are,” he responded.

Here are some clips from Howard’s talk, along with comments by health manager Teresa Johnny and Chief Francis Laceese about his visit.



Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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